Does Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Rip Off Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?

By John Mitchell Posted Feb 11th 2011 12:45PM

People are already going crazy for Lady Gaga's anthemic new single, 'Born This Way.' But we couldn't help but notice that in just about every article or review of the song (not to mention your comments, beloved PopEater readers), people are calling out its similarity to Madonna's 'Express Yourself,' with some even claiming it's a blatant rip-off.

While we wouldn't go that far -- we love Madonna (you have no idea), but people give her so much credit as a pop innovator you'd think she built the first synthesizer with her bare hands -- it's impossible to not see the thematic and melodic parallels between Her Madgesty's pop classic and Gaga's latest club jam.

If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Madonna should be feeling pretty good this morning. People are loving Gaga's new tune, but the big story that has emerged since its debut this morning is its rather obvious similarity to the Material Girl's 'Express Yourself' (there's also a little 'Deeper and Deeper' in there, too, if you ask us).

Compare for yourself:

The buzz has sent the Internet aflutter, with "Madonna," "Born This Way" and "Express Yourself" all trending on Twitter, and headlines from The Atlantic ("Is Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' a Rip-Off of Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?") to the Washington Post ("Lady Gaga's New Song, 'Born This Way,' Premieres Online. We think Madonna Will Like It") drawing the comparison.

But as Vulture notes, "['Born This Way'] has Gaga, an artist constantly compared to Madonna, cheerfully swiping some melodies from Madonna's 'Express Yourself' -- because this is not the kind of song where that feels like a big deal, or anything much at all seems like a big deal."

Exactly. To us, Gaga's new tune feels like more of an homage than a rip-off. The 'Bad Romance' singer has made no secret of her respect for Madonna, and with that in mind, there's no way the thematic and musical similarities between 'Born This Way' and 'Express Yourself' were not purposeful. With its full-on disco swagger and lyrics about self-acceptance, Gaga is taking a page straight out of the Madonna handbook and not apologizing for it.

And why should she? Just about every female pop star -- from Britney Spears and Rihanna to Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera, whose 'Not Myself Tonight' video got raked over the coals last spring for borrowing imagery from the 'Express Yourself' video -- has been accused of aping Madonna at some point. At least when Gaga does it she has the class and pop sensibility to do it right. 'Born This Way' isn't a poor-man's retread of 'Express Yourself'; it takes the feel and concept of that empowerment anthem and ups the ante. Gaga cranks the bass and opens the door to everybody -- and it's something we should be celebrating her for.

'Express Yourself' -- song and video -- remains a high point in Madonna's particular brand of pop culture feminism, and in a lot of ways, it's probably her most successful "message" song. And sure, 'Born This Way' is cut from the same cloth, but who cares? Twenty-two years after 'Express Yourself' topped the charts, it's about time someone dropped a self-acceptance tune that holds a candle to the Queen of Pop's showstopper.

Let's just hope Gaga's likely-to-be-awesome video for 'Born This Way' -- she reportedly already filmed the clip with her 'Telephone' and 'Paparazzi' director Jonas Akerlund, himself a longtime collaborator of Madonna's (he directed her videos for 'Ray of Light,' 'Music' and, most recently, 'Celebration') -- is half as good as Madge's legendary David Fincher-directed clip for 'Express Yourself.'

What do you think, PopEater readers? Do you think 'Born This Way' hews too closely to 'Express Yourself,' or is Gaga simply paying her respects (in the best way she knows how) to the Queen of Pop?

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Tags: Lady Gaga, madonna

Comments

(292)

Friday 11 February

By terryhighlander

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AND WE WONDER WHY EVERY BODY THINK'S THIS COUNTRY IS A JOKE, WELL JUST TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND. WE HAVE A HYBRED MONKEY AS ARE LEADER AND THIS, THIS THING, WHAT IS IT ANYWAY????

By Ellen

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Just wondered how long it would take for someone to link this story to Obama. It is absolutely phenomenal how this one man can be involved in millions of issues at one time.

By Todd

You have to blind, deaf, and dumb not to see that gagag (and I do mean GAG GAG)is nothing more than a Madonna knock-off anyway. So of course it is going to be a cheap copy.

By Rhett

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It reminds me of another rip off. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys stole the melody of Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry and wrote the lyrics to Surfin USA. Chuck Berry sued and won. So later releases of the song credited Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry to the song Surfin USA.

By Sigrid

And the verses are Don't Go Chasin Waterfalls

By Julie

LADY GAGA has always been a Madonna knock off ... no news here ...
one Vegas show short of a high wire ... snore ...

Sunday 13 February

By Shannon

The thing that gets on my nerves is how the media brags about how different these news artist are, but Lady Gaga can't even ceate a song without taking ideas from other people. The only thing different is her costumes. Michael Jackson and Madonna never copied off of anybody else's songs to make it their own, that's why they're so successful. Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber just don't have any new ideas, that's why they rely on the big Legends and take their ideas.

To me, that's not creative.

By Bernie

As a musician my self I can say that the similarities are in the arrangement, not so much in
the melody. Similar beat, similar instrumentation, thats all. Its not an infringement on the copyright, because it is not similar enough......

By daDEEDADEE

Ga Ga GooGoo. Baa Baa Boo Boo. Whoodee whoodee carey carey

By Trind

Absolutely. She even sounds like Madonna.

By Gangsta della Opera

oddly enuff, "Express Yourself" was a rip-off of (who remembers?) B. Willis' cover of "Respect Yourself", which was probably a rip-off of...?? it's been done & done thruout the history of music. back in the 80s my grp of pre-"gleeks" & I had fun singing impromptu duets w/ the radio of rip-offs... go back to billy ocean's "Caribbean Queen" & u can exactly sing MJJ's "Billie Jean" hook right with it. wait 4 him to sing opening lyrics "caribbean queen..", then just start billie jean...same song. L Richie's "Hello" hook =Amy Grant's "El Shaddai". "Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" is a rip-off of REO Speedwagon's own earlier hit, "Keep on Loving You", again, u can sing both hooks together & they're identical in chord structure & (most) of the melody...

By Just saying

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Yes you make a valid point...however those other artists did not hype their song and sing it's praises and find every possible outlet (the internet, twitter etc.) to say "Wait when you hear my new song...it's just going to blow your mind and change pop culture forever"...PLEASE!!!!!!!! This song did not blow my mind...it just BLOWS!

By trk387

The song sounds nothing like " express yourself " but it does sound like MADONNA LOL.

t

By ricky

PEOPLE ! Its been YEARS since madonnas Express Yourself . Who cares if it sounds similar, theres TONS of songs that sound like others . Theres only sooo many sounds out there . WHO CARES Madonna is OVER and if gaga is inspired by madonna than awesome ! GAGA is waaay cooler tho !

By Nelly

Everyone knows the song becaue it appeared on Glee. Sorry but this is not inspiration, it's clearly a rip off.

The main problem is she over hyped the song and called it the song of decade. Sorry but it SUCKS.

By Becky

After listening to both and admittedly not being a music expert, I think the song is eerily similar. It also seems as if Lady GaGa is trying to push the envelope with her wardrobe and in her demeanor like Madonna did 30 yrs ago. Yep, I call Madonna wannabe.

By ang

She doesn't even sound like herself. I got into my car this morning and the song had already premiered on the radio station --that I always listen to on my way to work-- and always plays todays music and nothing more. I thought I had dialed it to the wrong station, because they would never play 80's Madonna? Sure enough it was Lady Gaga and the song a lot of us had been waiting for. Not impressed, my mind is surely not blown and bollocks that now it will be played on every radio station every fifteen minutes for the next year....sigh....

It is another sign of how our culture is slipping. Plagiarism is now called homage, as lying is just a "misunderstanding". I am always reminded of Alistair Cooke's observation of how frequently freakishness masquerades as creativity. It seems that art forms do this more and more frequently. Remember: Give the people a good show, and they may forget about talent.

By Chris

Who cares I thought Madonna sucked then and Gaga sucks now get a life people

By undrgrndgirl

lady gaga is a pathetic a rip off of madonna and debbie harry...

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